Work

Clinical trial highlights: Dopamine cell-replacement therapies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterised by motor features, many of which relate to the loss of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway. The use of grafted cells to replace the lost dopaminergic neurons as a therapy for Parkinson's has been explored since the 1980s, with mixed clinical outcomes. Much of the heterogeneity in outcomes has been related to the major problems with the cell source for these trials, being derived from human fetal brain tissue. It is, however, now possible to derive authentic midbrain dopamine cells from human pluripotent stem cells and several first-in-human clinical trials are now underway to explore this approach.

Source: Journal of Parkinson s Disease

DOI: 10.1177/1877718x251397277

Authors: Saeed Kayhanian, Roger A Barker

Institutions: Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Language: English

Topic: Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Guarantors of Brain